Slitting mechanism for box making machines



May 21,1940. c. D. KNOWLTON 2,201,184

SLITTING MECHANISM FOR BOX MAKING MACHINES Filed Aug. 26, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 Fig] X f z 4 V I 4 r j/ s/ e May 21, 1940.

C. D. KNOWLTON SLITTING MECHANISM FOR BOX MAKING MACHINES Filed Aug. 26, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VVENTUP Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STAS SLITTING MECHANISM FOR BOX MAKING MACHINES Cutler D. Knowlton, Beverlyflwassu assignor to Hoague-Sprague Corporation, Lynn, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application August 26, 1938, Serial No. 226,980

6 Claims.

This invention relates to slitting mechanism for box-making machines, and particularly to that for operating upon blanks for boxes of the corner-lap type.

In corner-dap boxes of the character of that disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,811,135, Knowlton, June 23, 1931, formed from blanks of pasteboar-d or other shell-material carryingan outer covering of paper or the like, the paper is divided along the inner edge of each corner-lap at the outer edge of the slot between it and the corresponding end-wing to a point close to the rounded end of the slot. This gives a flap which may be folded over the outer edge of the end-wing to conceal the shell-material when the box is set up. In doing this, there may be left at the end of each slot an irregularly torn fragment of cover-paper, which lies beyond the division forming the flap. When the blank is set up by folding the corner-laps of the side-wings within the end-wings, this remaining piece of papermay either be carried outside the box-corner, making an unsightly projection, or it may be forced in an indeterminate position within the box. In either case, there may be left at the corner an objectionable opening. It is an object of my invention to guard against such .effects and to prepare box-blanks so as to dispose the cover-paper at the end of each slot in a predetermined position within and closing the corners of set-up boxes.

In the achievement of this object, I combine with a rotatable abutment-roll, having a continuous cylindrical surface against which the cover-paper upon a slotted blank rests, a rotatable roll carrying cutting means having a portion, as a segmental blade, for dividing the coverpaper longitudinally along the edge of each slot between an end-wing and a corner-lap of a blank and adapted to enter said slot in theshell-material, and a portion adapted also to enter the slot, which may be in the form of a blade mounted upon the roll at the end of the segmental blade,

this last-mentioned portion being arranged to divide the paper along a line extending fromthe longitudinal division in an inclined direction toward the inner end of the slot to leave the desired portion covering the slot-end. Both blades cut through the slots in the blank against the smooth peripheral surface of the abutment-roll.

As shown, the transverse blade isvariable' in position upon the roll, being preferably mounted upon a holder, which may be in the form of a block. The projection of the transverse blade from the periphery of the roll may be varied to determine the depth of the cut. In the particular arrangement disclosed herein, the roll is made up of adjacent sections between which the segmental blade is clamped, and in one of which is a recess to receive the mounting block, in which block is a slot lying at an angle to the segmental blade and containing the transverse blade. A screw threaded through one of the roll-sections engages the block to fix it in the roll and the blade in the slot. A screw threaded through the block from its outer face and engaging one of the roll-sections may be utilized to vary the projection of the angular blade.

In a divisional application filed in my name in the United States Patent Office on May 24:, 1939, and bearing the Serial No. 275,445, are described and claimed improvements in Methods of making box-blanks and boxes. i

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l. is a broken plan View of the blank formed by the mechanism of this invention;

Fig.2, a broken perspective view of a corner of a box set up from such blank;

Fig. 3, a plan view of the slitting roll of my improved mechanism by which the cover-paper of shell-material S (Fig. 4) to the inner face of e which is secured, as by gluing, lining-paper L, after which slots 8 are formed in the webs, these separating from end-Wings a, a (Fig. l) lying at the opposite extremities of a body-portion b, corner-laps c projecting from the extremities of side-wings d from the body-portion. The slots 8 have parallel sides x, a: which terminate in rounded ends y, 1/. After the slots have been formed, cover-paper C is adhesively applied to the outer face of the shell-web.

To cover the raw edges of the shell-material after the blank is set up in box-form, with the corner-lapssecured to the inner faces of the end-wings, flaps ofcover-paper are formed at e extending outwardly from the edges of the endwings for approximately the full width of the slots. These flaps are to be folded about the edges of'the end-wings and glued to their inner faces. The formation of the flaps may be accomplished for each of the slots 8 by a segmental cutting blade it carried by a roll R. The roll,

as appears in Figs. 3 and 4, has a body-portion I2, which rotates continuously in the operation of the mechanism in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4. Fast upon the body of the roll are two sections I4 and i6, which may be drawn toward each other by screws l8 to clamp the blade l0 between them. A filler-segment 20 may be placed between the roll-sections at the side opposite the blade to space them from each other. The segmental blade in its revolution acts successively through the slots s in the advancing webs S, L, to divide the cover-paper C along the edge of each corner-lap, it making its cuts against an upper rotatable abutment-roll 22. This segmental blade is able to sever the coverpaper for substantially the full length of the straight edge a: of the slot, but since it is operating through said slot, its out must terminate somewhat short of the curved ends y. Were the division of the cover-paper to stop here, the folding of the flap 6 about the edge of the end-wing would necessitate tearing away of the flap from the un'severed end-portion of the paper. The flap itself may also be torn, so it may remain attached to either the corner-lap or to the endwing, as well as to the body-portion. If the connection is to the endwing, the torn portion tends to remain projecting as an irregular fragment outside the corner of the set-up box. If, instead, the connection is to the corner-lap, the torn portion may enter the box but may be carried away from the corner, leaving this open. Neither arrangement furnishes an acceptable cornerformation. To control the disposition of this terminal portion; of the cover-paper, I perform an additional step in its division.

At each end of the blade iii a recess 24 is formed in the roll-section l4, opening through its inner wall. Each recess contains a holderblock 26, an inner corner of which lies in proximity to the blade l0. Opening through this corner for the full depth of the block is a relatively narrow, diagonally arranged slot 28,

which is inclined outwardly from the blade [0,

blank. Nearest the blade II], the edge of the 7 blade 34, which extends from the periphery of the roll in a generally radial direction, is V- shaped, so it may beset close to the companion blade to produce therewith a substantially unbroken cut, while its cutting edge occupies with that of the blade l0 approximately the same circumferential surface. The holder-block is secured in its recess, and the shank 32 of the blade 34 in the block, by a screw 40. This is threaded horizontally through the roll-section Id and, entering the recess, contacts with the side. of the block. This not only forces said block against the roll-section E6 to fix this in the recess, but also displaces the divided portion of the block and thus simultaneously clamps therein the shank 32 of the blade 34. With this screw 49 loosened, the blade 34 may be raised and lowered under the control of a screw 442, threaded through the block and contacting with the bottom of the recess 28. By this means, the cutting edge of the blade 3 3 may be brought into the proper relation to the cutting edge of the blade ID, with respect to their co-operation with the abutment-roll 22. At the opposite ends of the slot 8, the two blades 34 continue the division of the cover-paper produced by the blade ill at an angle thereto. Efach severs the material along a predetermined line a from a point at the edge of the corner-lap and at the outer edge :0 of the slot, this point being situatedoutwardly from the curved end y of the slot, in an inclined direction to the juncture of the edge of the end-wing with the body of the blank, or substantially where the inner edge at of the slot meets the curved end 1!. Thereby is formed the flap e of the cover-paper, projecting from the edge of the end-wing and having'an inclined inner end and connected only to the end-wing. There is left attached to each corner-lap for a considerable distance from the end of the slot-edge ar, an unbroken portion f of the cover-paper, which tapers in width inwardly, it completely closing the slot-end y. As the Webs advance after their passage between the rolls R. and 22, the flap e is tucked through the slot 8, its adhesive-coated surface being turned over and pressed against the inner face of the end-wing, as appears in Fig. 1. Other forming operations, such as producing the crease-lines h, follow, and the individual blanks are completed by severing the webs midway of the joined endwings of succeeding blanks.

From theblank, a box is set up by raising the side-wings d about their creases h from their positions in the plane of the body-portion b, turning in the corner-laps c, and as these pass over the inner faces of the end-wings a, lifting said end-wings. This finally brings the box elements (2, c and a to vertical positions, with the adhesively coated faces of the end-wings against the outer faces of the alined corner-laps. These are pressed together to secure the elements intheir set-up relation, the blank-wings and corner-laps furnishing the box-walls, a corner of the completed box being shown in Fig. 2. It will be seen that in the folding of each cornerlap, the portion 1 of the cover-paper will move unbroken with it, being bent first along the longitudinal crease, and then along the transverse crease, and will be carried unfailingly within the box. With the boxthus formed, any opening which may tend to be left at a corner, at the juncture of the body-portion with the end-wing and the corner-lap, will be closed by this portion of the cover-paper, so any gaping appearance will be concealed, and a neat corner dependably produced.

While the invention has been herein described in connection with a box, it is to be understood that this has reference to a box-part, which may consist either of a box or its cover.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a mechanism for operating upon slotted blanks having cover-paper applied over the slots, a rotatable abutment-roll provided with a continuous cylindrical surface against which the cover-paper rests, a rotatable roll co-operating with the abutment-roll and having means cutting through the slots against the smooth peripheral surface of the abutment-roll, said cutting means having a portion adapted to divide the coverpaper longitudinally of the blank along one edge of each slot, and a portion arranged to divide the cover-paper along a line extending from the longitudinal division in an inclined direction toward the inner end of and across each slot.

2. In a mechanism for operating upon slotted blanks having cover-paper applied over the slots,

a rotatable roll, a segmental blade carried by the roll and adapted to divide the cover-paper longitudinally of each slot, a holder carried by the roll at an end of the segmental blade, a cutting blade mounted in the holder, and a member movable to clamp the holder in the roll and the blade in the holder.

3. In a mechanism for operating upon slotted blanks having cover-paper applied over the slots, a rotatable roll, a segmental blade carried by the roll and adapted to divide the cover-paper longitudinally of each slot, a holder carried by the roll at an end of the segmental blade, a cutting blade mounted in the holder, and means arranged to vary the projection of the blade in the holder from the periphery of the roll.

4. In a mechanism for operating upon blanks, a roll comprising adjacent sections, there being a recess in one of the sections, a segmental cutting blade clamped between the sections with its end adjacent to the recess, ablock mounted in the recess and provided with a slot lying at an angle to the segmental blade, and a cuttiang blade fixed in the slot.

5. In a mechanism for operating upon blanks, a roll comprising adjacent sections, there being a recess in one of the sections, a segmental cutting blade clamped between the sections with its end adjacent to the recess, a block mounted in the recess and provided with a slot lying at an-angle to said segmental blade, a cutting blade in the slot, and a screw threaded through one of the roll-sections and engaging the block to fix it in the roll and the blade in the slot.

6. In a mechanism-for operating upon blanks, a roll comprising adjacent sections, there being a recess in one of the sections, a segmental cutting blade clamped between the sections with its end adjacent to the recess, a block mounted in the recess and provided with a slot lying at an angle to said segmental blade, a cutting blade in the slot, a screw threaded through one of the sections and engaging the block to fix it in the roll and the blade in the slot, and a screw threaded through the block from its outer face and engaging one of the roll-sections.

CUTLER D. KNOWLTON. 

